Phila couple escapes house fire unharmed

Damages are estimated at about $50,000 to a single-story, ranch-style house at 509 Union Ave. NW from a fire reported at 6:31 p.m. Sunday.

Times-Reporter staff report

Damages are estimated at about $50,000 to a single-story, ranch-style house at 509 Union Ave. NW from a fire reported at 6:31 p.m. Sunday.

Fire Capt. Wes Tucke said the fire was discovered by the homeowners/occupants Jo Leonard and Dorothy Marshall, who were at home having dinner when they smelled smoke. Both escaped unharmed, along with their two cats.

Tucke said the fire appears to have originated from a fire in a gas-burning fireplace, which ignited an exterior wall of the family room and spread upward into the attic. The fire originally was reported as a chimney fire, but Tucke said the chimney was not involved.

Firefighters were assisted at the scene by the Dover Fire Department and Smith Ambulance Service personnel.